Grier extends Johnson's suspension to 'indefinite'

Returning from Thursday night's loss at Saint Mary's, USD men's basketball coach Bill Grier met yesterday with sophomore point guard Trumaine Johnson, who missed the trip while serving a one-game suspension for a violation of team rules.

The meeting concluded with the suspension being extended to “indefinite,” school spokesman Ted Gosen said.

Johnson started the last 15 games of the 2007-08 season in a three-guard alignment with Brandon Johnson and De'Jon Jackson as USD went 12-3, winning the West Coast Conference Tournament and a first-round NCAA Tournament game against Connecticut.

The Toreros' home contest against Pacific tonight will be the 10th this season that Johnson, from Houston, has missed under disciplinary sanctions for unspecified team infractions.

He was suspended for the first eight and did not play in four additional games after reinstatement.

Johnson has played in 14 games with 11 starts, averaging 11.6 points per game. USD, 13-14 overall, is 7-7 in contests in which Johnson has played.

USD policy is not to make players available to the media while under suspension.